The two things that would matter the most for me would be pay (with the cost of living for that state factored in) and the weather if the job was to be almost the same. I absolutely hate the winters here in NY and have been debating a move to North Carolina.

 

Culture/Arts for me. . . what I do for a day job has no bearing on what my passion is (semi-pro Classical musician). Even then, a quality Culture/Arts base is often paired with a good job market (chicken/egg scenario after a while).

 

outdoor recreation opportunities that don't have condo's & traffic noise are big for me. Florida has some great outdoor stuff to do but there are very few places left where you can get away from civilization for a bit and the few places there are consist mostly of swamps or scrub forest (not too exciting anymore). I'm always amazed when I get up into the mountains at how quiet it is; I'd like to live someplace like that someday.

 

A friend of mine just built a house ground up on a big piece of land...few miles inland of Cocoa beach. It literally stands out there where nobody (except his niece's house on the other side) is and he builds his own dirt-bike course with he's tracktor (yes, he owns a tracktor) on his "back yard." He has a 4 wheel outdoor vehicle as well (that thing is FUN!). Me and my other friends use his back yard to ride dirt bikes, whenever we can. Yes, it is pretty damn quite and nice outside.